How do I become a receptionist?

How do i become a secretary/receptionist?

• well im in 11th grade, just got home schooled this year.I don't know much about college.But i would like to be a secretary or receptionist.Do i even need college for that?If so ...show more

• Answer:

  i did it without a college degree -- started as a receptionist & ended up as secretary to the CEO of Getty Minerals Marketing. i think that you'd do best by starting out with some temp agencies in your town. they'll send you on a bunch of different assignments which will give you a chance to hone your skills, get a feel for offices & how they work, and to learn about what you want to do, what you *don't* want to do (like sit all day and type addresses on letters and envelopes --- okay. i'm so old that that job was pre-computer, but you get the idea), about the kinds of people you want to work with, and a feel for what to ask for in terms of salary. plus, a lot of temps eventually get hired for the office that they're working in. make it easy for them -- be calm and eager to learn, if you find yourself sitting there with time on your hands, don't be afraid to ask if there's something you can help out with (keeping busy is the best way to make a day go by fast & not be boring.) dress professionally, and pay attention to the people around you. some offices are very serious and quiet; some are really free-wheeling. the more you make yourself fit in in an office environment, and the more you're willing to help out unasked, the easier it is for the employer to visualize you as a long-term employee. good luck